The helmets are strapped, the pads are on and Saturday, they’ll be poppin’ all across NEPA. It’s the first real look at what teams have been building all summer as the countdown to Friday nights hits the home stretch. See who’s lining up where in this Saturday scrimmage slate.

One final hurdle. One more win. And now, Williamsport awaits. East Side Little League finished its dominant Mid-Atlantic run with a 3-1 victory over familiar foe Naamans, Delaware, powered by Cole Warner’s eight-strikeout performance, aggressive base-running and a heart-stopping final play from Ryan Donnelly. Cody Brady of LSV Sports takes us through the championship moment that officially punched West Chester’s ticket to the Little League World Series.

Too athletic to wait? Nazareth alum Peyton Falzone arrived at Penn State as a four-star quarterback, but the Nittany Lions are already experimenting with another way to get the 6-foot-5 freshman onto the field. Camp reporting and quotes attributed to Nittany Central.

The Scranton Prep standout has established himself as one of the area’s premier multi-sport athletes, earning recognition on both the lacrosse field and football field while building a reputation as a player who embraces competition wherever he finds it.

Runners and walkers of all ages packed into Canton Area High School Saturday morning for the \"Hope Runs in Every Hue\" 5K Color Run/Walk. Sign-in kicked off at 8 a.m., and by 9, 140 participants were off and running for a cause that hits close to home for a lot of families in the area. Every dollar raised goes to Kids Can\'t Fight Cancer Alone (KCFCA), a group that supports families dealing with pediatric cancer. And with Falcon Race Timing on hand to keep things official, the top runners put down some legitimately fast times, color run or not.

After collecting Division I offers, taking visits and spending years building relationships with college coaches, Stambaugh committed to the University of Richmond in November 2025. She had found her school, made her decision and could finally turn her full attention back to basketball.

Competing against some of the top young throwers in the country at the AAU Track and Field Junior Olympics in Des Moines, Iowa, Adams delivered when it mattered most. The 13U standout launched a personal-best throw of 92 feet, 6 inches, finishing seventh in the nation and earning AAU All-American honors.

TUNKHANNOCK — Madelyn Bevan has spent plenty of time behind the camera capturing the biggest moments for athletes across Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Joey Chestnut came to NEPA hungry and left with another record. The 18-time hot dog eating champion crushed 100 pierogies…seven pounds worth in just 4:26 at PNC Field before getting officially Wired with Sportzwire’s Mikey Eckrote.

Coming into the 2024 football season, Gravine was fresh off what he considered the best offseason of his career. He was stronger, faster and ready for what he believed could be a breakout junior season.

The next chapter begins for one of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s finest. Former Holy Redeemer standout and Siena Saints guard Justice Shoats has signed his first professional contract with Clube Atlético Queluz in Portugal’s top basketball league, capping a collegiate career that included a MAAC championship, an NCAA Tournament appearance against No. 1 Duke, and All-Tournament honors. Now, the Wilkes-Barre native is taking his game overseas, becoming the latest local athlete to turn a hometown dream into a professional reality.

One region. Four state champions. One ticket to Williamsport. The road to the Little League World Series runs through Bristol, Connecticut, where four of the Mid-Atlantic’s best square off in a winner-take-all battle for a place on baseball’s biggest stage. Pennsylvania champion East Side joins unbeaten title winners from Delaware, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., in a field loaded with dominant pitching, explosive offenses, and players capable of changing a game with one swing. Can East Side continue its remarkable run after battling back through the Pennsylvania elimination bracket? Will Capitol Hill make history by becoming the first Washington, D.C., representative to reach Williamsport? Can Berlin’s high-powered lineup continue its offensive barrage, or will Delaware powerhouse Naamans ride its deep pitching staff back to the Little League World Series? Before the first pitch is thrown, dive into this comprehensive tournament preview featuring team breakdowns, key players to watch, statistical leaders, storylines, and matchup analysis from each state champion. Special thanks to Cody Brady of LSV Sports for providing the outstanding in-depth team analysis and research featured throughout this preview. Cody continues to deliver exceptional coverage of youth and high school athletics across eastern Pennsylvania. Be sure to check out and support LSV Sports for more outstanding local sports coverage.

After fighting through the elimination bracket and forcing a winner-take-all championship game with a victory the day before, East Side Little League completed one of the most remarkable runs of the Pennsylvania State Tournament, defeating Blue Mountain 12-8 to claim the 2026 Pennsylvania State Championship.

From the wrestling gyms of Northeastern Pennsylvania to the top of the world podium, Riverside’s Nelson Villafane delivered the biggest victory of his young career, capturing the U17 World Championship in Azerbaijan and cementing himself as one of the brightest young stars in international wrestling.

With their season on the line, East Side delivered its most complete performance of the Pennsylvania State Little League Tournament on Monday, defeating previously unbeaten Blue Mountain 8-2 to force a decisive winner-take-all championship game.